Local Government Association’s Peer Review

The full report from the Local Government Association’s Peer Review assessment has now been published.

The content has been welcomed by senior leaders at the council as it recognises progress being made in many areas across the council. It also highlights a number of recommendations for the authority to make further improvements.

Please see below attachment to the full report and also a media release issued by the council to the local and regional media where the new leader of the council, Councillor Patrick Harley, sets out his vision for the council on the back of the LGA report.

What is a Local Government Peer Review?

The LGA Peer Challenges are sector led improvement reviews that are offered to local authorities, undertaken by elected members and officer peers. The peer challenge offers an opportunity to validate the direction of travel and approach being taken by the Council, and test, stretch and further evolve thinking for the future.

Our Corporate Peer Challenge focused on five areas including our place leadership role, financial strategy and transformation programme and the confidence and readiness of our senior leadership to deliver on our plans, proposals and ambitions – particularly in the context of a Council that has No Overall Control (NOC).

The ongoing development of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), including how effectively we are now taking forward the regeneration of the borough, in particular with our partners in a WMCA context also formed part of the review.

A team of peers spent four days with us, talking with a range of officers, members, stakeholders and residents in a series of meetings, discussion sessions and focus groups.